Improvement in machines for cleaning and opening flock



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IV. C. GEER, OF ROCKVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 25,895, dated October 25, 1859.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W. C. GEER, of Rockville, in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Cleaning and Opening Flock; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a side view of my invention, a portion being bisected or broken away in order to show a certain part of the interior. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same, taken in the line x, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the igures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a machine whereby all foreign substances may be effectually separated from the iock and the latter opened or its particles distended or loosened, so that it will leave the machine in a light state suitable for use.

The invention consists in the employment or use of a nietahtoothed cylinder and concave fan, and a cone provided with projecting toothed ledges and fitted within a corresponding-shaped shell, also provided with teeth, the whole being combined and arranged to operate substantially as herein described to effect the desired result.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a rectangular frame, in the upper part of which a conical shell B is placed. Vithin the shell B a cone Cis fitted and allowed to rotate freely. The cone C is placed on a shaft D, the bearings of which are on the top of the frame A` The shell B, as well as the cone C, may be of wood, and the latter has a series of lugs or projections a on its periphery, which are provided with radial teeth b, the spaces on the cone between the lugs being smooth or not provided with teeth. The inner surface of the shellB is also provided with teeth c, in longitudinal rows at suitable distances apart. The shell B is provided with an eduction-pipe E near its larger end, and at its opposite or smaller end the shell communicates by a passage d with a box F, which is supported by the frame A.

At the back part of the box F there is a rotary fan G, which is of the usual construction, and at the lower part of the box F there is a vertical discharge-passage I-I. In the upper part of the box F a cast-metal cylinder I is placed. This cylinder is allowed to rotate freely, and its periphery is toothed. Vithin the box F there is placed a concave J, which is also toothed and has its face side concentric, or nearly so, with the cylinder I. On the upper part of the box F ahopper K is placed.

The box F and hopper K may be of cast metal. The cone C and fau G may both be rotated by belts or gearing from the shaft of the cylinder I, to which shaft any convenient power may be applied.

The operation is as follows: The flock, previously cut or prepared in the usual or any proper way, is placed in the hopper K, and passes down between the cylinder I and concave J, the feed being regulated by a slide e. (Shown in Fig. 2.) The flock in passing between the cylinder and concave is subjected to a rubbing or tearing action, and all foreign substances-such as sticks,nails, scraps of iron, the., which are frequently mixed with the flock-are detached from it or separated, while the action of the cylinderloosens or light-ens up the iiock, so that the fan G will blow the same through the passage d into the shell B, the foreign substances fall-- ing, on account of their superior gravity, through the dischargepassage l'l. As the iiock enters the shell B it is opened by the teeth b c of the cone and shell, the flock passing along to the larger cud of the shell, partly by the action of the blast from the fan G, assisted by a blast generated by the lugs aand the cone form of the shell, the iiock being discharged from E in a clean, loose, and light state. v

I do not claim the employment or use of a toothed cone or cylinder revolving within a correspondingly shaped toothed shell, for such device has been previously used for opening flock, but,

Having thus described my invention, what toothed cylinder I, concave J, and fan G, ar- I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letranged for joint operation, substantially as ters Patent, isand for the purpose set forth.

The employment or use of a revolving cone lV. C. GEER.

or cylinder C, provided with toothed lugs a Witnesses: and placed Within a correspondingly-shaped M. M. LIVINGSTON, toothed shell B, in combination with the C. M. HUGHES. 

